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The system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal ( 76, 338 ) which is connected through a network ( 82, 328 ) to at least one remote computer ( 84, 324 ) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a

The system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal ( 76, 338 ) which is connected through a network ( 82, 328 ) to at least one remote computer ( 84, 324 ) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device ( 348 ) which is connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices ( 96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527 ) connected to the data terminal. A report generating device ( 384 ) generates reports ( 388 ) which include machine readable indicia corresponding to patients and/or medical items. Users may select patients and dispense medications by reading the indicia from the reports using the reading device. Certain storage locations are also labeled with machine readable indicia which may be read to indicate the taking of items therefrom as well as to indicate inventory status information. One such dispensing device in the system is a cabinet ( 550 ). The cabinet may be configured with various configurations of drawers or shelves by supporting connecting members in apertures which extend in the interior walls of the cabinet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising:a supporting structure including a generally vertically extending wall, the wall including at least two sets of generally horizontally disposed apertures therein, wherein each set of apertures includes a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the first aperture is d

1. An apparatus comprising:a supporting structure including a generally vertically extending wall, the wall including at least two sets of generally horizontally disposed apertures therein, wherein each set of apertures includes a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the first aperture is disposed vertically above the second aperture; anda releasible connecting member, wherein the connecting member in an operative position extends substantially between the sets of apertures and in releasible supporting connection with the wall, wherein the releasible connecting member is adapted for supporting items in operative connection therewith, wherein the releasible connecting member includes two disposed pairs of projecting portions corresponding to the sets of apertures, and wherein each pair of projecting portions includes a first projection and a second projection, and wherein in the operative position of the connecting member the first projection extends in a first aperture and the second projection extends in a second aperture, and wherein in cross section the second projection extends from the connecting member in generally a first direction, and wherein the first projection includes an inner portion, wherein the inner portion extends from the connecting member in generally the first direction, and wherein the first projection includes an end portion, wherein the end portion extends generally transverse to the first direction and away from the second projection, and wherein the connecting member is placed in supporting connection with the wall by extending the end portions of the first projections in the first apertures of the sets and then rotating the connecting member relative to the wall to the operative position wherein the inner portions extend in the first apertures and the second projections extend in the second apertures. 2. An apparatus comprising:a supporting structure including a generally vertically extending wall, the wall including at least two sets of apertures,wherein a pair of sets are disposed generally horizontally,wherein each set includes a first aperture and a second aperture,wherein each set includes the first aperture disposed vertically from the second aperture; anda releasible connecting member,wherein the connecting member in an operative position extends adjacent two sets of apertures and in releasible supporting connection with the wall,wherein the connecting member is adapted for supporting items in operative connection therewith,wherein the connecting member includes two disposed pairs of projecting portions,wherein each pair of projecting portions includes a first projection and a second projection,wherein in the operative position of the connecting member each respective first projection extends in a respective first aperture and each respective second projection extends in a respective second aperture,wherein in cross section each second projection extends from the connecting member in generally a first direction,wherein each first projection includes an inner portion, wherein each inner portion extends from the connecting member in generally the first direction,wherein each first projection includes an end portion, wherein each end portion extends generally transverse to the first direction and away from the second projections,wherein the connecting member is placed in supporting connection with the wall by extending each respective end portion in a respective first aperture, whereby each respective inner portion extends in a respective first aperture, and by extending each respective second projection in a respective second aperture to engage the connecting member with the wall. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the releasible connecting member comprises a body and wherein the first projection extends from the body, and wherein in the operative position of the connecting member the end portion and the body extend on opposed sides of the vertica lly extending wall. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising an outer wall extending generally parallel to and in operatively fixed connection with the vertically extending wall, wherein a space extends between the vertically extending wall and the outer wall and wherein in the operative position of the connecting member the end portion extends in the space. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a horizontally disposed pair of sets of apertures comprise an arrangement, and wherein the vertically extending wall comprises a plurality of vertically disposed arrangements of apertures, wherein the connecting member is positionable to engage any one of the arrangements of apertures in the operative position, whereby the connecting member is selectively vertically positionable relative to the vertically extending wall. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising a moveable item supporting member in operative supporting connection with the connecting member, wherein in the operative position of the connecting member the item supporting member is moveable relative to the wall. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the item supporting member is moveable relative to the vertically extending wall in a generally horizontal direction. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the vertically extending wall comprises a first wall with first arrangements of apertures therein, wherein the connecting member comprises a first connecting member, and further comprising:a second wall, wherein the second wall is generally vertically extending and horizontally disposed from the first wall, wherein the second wall comprises a plurality of second arrangements of apertures therein, wherein each respective second arrangement generally corresponds vertically to a respective first arrangement,a second connecting member, wherein the first connecting member is in operative connection with one of the first arrangements of apertures and the second connecting member is in operative connection with one of the second arrangements of apertures, andan item supporting member in supporting connection with the first and second connecting members. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the item supporting member is moveably mounted in supporting connection with the first and second connecting members, wherein the supporting member is generally moveable horizontally relative to the first and second walls. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising:a plurality of first and second connecting members, each connecting member in supporting connection with the first and second walls respectively;a plurality of item supporting members, each item supporting member independently moveably mounted in supporting connection with one first supporting member and one second supporting member. 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the item supporting member comprises a drawer. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the item supporting member comprises a shelf. 13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the item supporting members are vertically spaced from one another by a first vertical distance, and wherein the first and second arrangements of apertures are spaced from one another by generally the first vertical distance. 14. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the item supporting members are spaced from one another by a first vertical distance, and wherein the first and second arrangements of apertures are spaced from one another by a second vertical distance, wherein the second vertical distance is smaller than the first vertical distance. 15. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least one first aperture in a set is elongated generally horizontally, and wherein a first projection is elongated in a direction generally parallel to the first direction such that in the operative position of the connecting member the elongated first projection extends into and substant ially fills the generally horizontally elongated first aperture. 16. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least one second aperture in a set is elongated generally vertically, and wherein [the second projection which extends in the one second aperture in the operative position of the connecting member is elongated in a direction generally parallel to the first direction such that] in the operative position of the connecting member a second projection extends in and substantially fills the vertically elongated aperture. 17. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first aperture in each of the sets is elongated generally horizontally and the second aperture in each of the sets is elongated generally vertically, and wherein the projections are configured such that the first projections extend in and substantially fill the first apertures and the second projections extend in and substantially fill the second apertures. 18. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein in each of the sets of apertures the second aperture is disposed horizontally from the first aperture. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the second apertures in the pair of sets are spaced further apart horizontally than the first apertures in the pair of sets. 20. The apparatus according to claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of first connecting members in supporting connection with the first wall, and a plurality of second connecting members in supporting connection with the second wall, wherein each of the first and second connecting members is configured to be engageable in the operative position with either the first wall or the second wall, and further comprising a plurality of item supporting members, wherein each item supporting member is in operative supporting connection with at least one first connecting member and at least one second connecting member. 21. A method comprising:a) removing from the apparatus recited in claim 20 at least one item supporting member from supporting connection with the respective first and second connecting members; andb) installing in supporting connection with the first and second connecting members another item supporting member. 22. A method comprising:a) removing from the apparatus recited in claim 20 at least one item supporting member from supporting connection with the respective first and second connecting members; andb) removing the first and second connecting members that corresponded to the removed item supporting member in an operative supporting connection from the first and second walls respectively. 23. The method according to claim 22 and further comprising the steps of:c) reinstalling the removed first connecting member in supporting connection with one of the first or second walls, and reinstalling the removed second connecting member in supporting connection with the other of the first or second walls;d) installing an item supporting member in supporting connection with the reinstalled first and second connecting members. 24. The method according to claim 23 wherein in step (b) the first connecting member is disengaged from an arrangement of apertures in the first wall, and wherein in step (c) one of the connecting members is engaged with a different arrangement of apertures in the first wall. 25. A method comprising:a) removing from the apparatus recited in claim 20 the plurality of item supporting members;b) removing the plurality of first and second connecting members from supporting connection with the first and second walls;c) installing a plurality of first and second connecting members in supporting connection with the first and second walls respectively;d) installing a plurality of item supporting members in supporting connection with the first and second connecting members installed in step (c). 26. The method according to claim 25 and further comprising the step of:e) placing a plurality of medical items in supporting connection with each of the item supporting mem bers. 27. The method recited in claim 25 wherein the item supporting members are supported in an enclosure, the enclosure including the first and second walls, and further comprising the step of:e) installing in connection with the enclosure at least one locking mechanism to restrict access to the plurality of item supporting members installed in step (d). 28. The method according to claim 27 and prior to step (e) further comprising the step of removing from supporting connection with the enclosure at least one locking mechanism for restricting access to at least one of the item supporting members removed in step (a). 29. The method according to claim 27 comprising a plurality of first medical items, and further comprising the steps of:f) placing in supporting connection with each respective item supporting member at least one respective first medical item;g) providing access to a selected first medical item responsive to at least one predetermined input to a user interface, wherein input of the pre-determined input is operative to cause the locking mechanism to provide access to the selected first medical item. 30. An apparatus comprising:a pair of drawer guides constructed to support a drawer and allow the drawer to move forward and backward in supporting connection therewith;a pair of brackets wherein each drawer guide is in operatively fixed connection with a corresponding of one of said brackets, wherein each bracket includes a substantially flat elongated member having a tab portion adjacent each longitudinal end, the tab portions extending in a first direction, wherein the elongated member further includes a finger portion adjacent an upper edge thereof, wherein the finger portion extends generally transverse to the first direction;a plurality of walls defining a cabinet, the walls including a top, back, bottom and a pair of disposed side walls, each of the side walls having a plurality of openings therein, the plurality of openings having a predetermined spacing and being configured to receive in releasibly engaging relation the finger portions and the tab portions of the brackets, wherein the openings in the side walls are generally horizontally aligned and vertically spaced wherein the drawer guides are selectively and vertically positionable in the cabinet. 31. An apparatus comprising:a pair of drawer guides constructed to support a drawer and allow the drawer to move forward and backward in supporting connection therewith;a pair of brackets,wherein each drawer guide is in operatively fixed connection with a respective one of said brackets,wherein each bracket includes a substantially flat elongated member having a tab portion adjacent each longitudinal end,the tab portions extending in a first direction,wherein the elongated member further includes finger portions adjacent an edge thereof,wherein the finger portions each include a projection, wherein the finger portion projections extend generally transverse to the first direction,a plurality of walls defining a cabinet,the walls including a top wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of disposed side walls,each of the side walls having a plurality of openings therein,the plurality of openings having a predetermined spacing and being configured to receive in releasibly engaging relation the finger portions and the tab portions of the brackets,wherein each opening is generally horizontally aligned with another opening and vertically spaced from another opening,wherein the drawer guides are selectively and vertically positionable in the cabinet. 32. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the plurality of openings comprise a first series of openings, wherein the openings in the first series of openings are vertically spaced on each side wall, and wherein a finger portion is releasibly engageable in each of the openings in the first series. 33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein each bracket includes a finger portion adjacent each longitudinal end, and wherein the first series of openings include in each side wall one row of vertically spaced openings and a second row of vertically spaced openings, wherein the openings in the second row are horizontally disposed from the openings in the first row. 34. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein each of the openings in the first series of openings has a size to receive a finger portion elongated member. 35. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the plurality of openings further comprises a second series of openings in each side wall, wherein each of the openings in the second series of openings are vertically spaced on each side wall, wherein a tab portion is releasibly engageable in each of the openings in the second series. 36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the second series of openings includes in each side wall, one row of vertically spaced openings and a second row of vertically spaced openings, wherein the openings in the first row are horizontally disposed from the openings in the second row. 37. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein each of the openings in the second series of openings has a size to receive a tab portion. 38. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the cabinet includes at least one outer wall, wherein the outer wall is outwardly disposed from at least one of the side walls, and wherein a space extends between the side wall and the outer wall, and wherein the finger portions extend in the space. 39. The apparatus according to claim 31 and further comprising a door, wherein the door is moveably mounted in supporting connection with the cabinet. 40. The apparatus according to claim 39 and further comprising a lock module in operative connection with the cabinet, wherein the lock module is selectively operative to change between a secured condition wherein the door is held in closing relation with the cabinet and an unsecured condition wherein the door is enabled to be opened. 41. The apparatus according to claim 40 and further comprisingat least one respective first medical item stored in the cabinet, a user input device in operative connection with the lock module and a computer in operative connection with the user input device,the computer in operative connection with a data store,wherein the data store includes data representative of a storage location within the cabinet, the first medical item stored in the storage location in the cabinet, and authorized inputs for enabling access to the first medical item,and wherein the computer is operative responsive to authorized inputs to the user interface to cause the condition of the lock module to change tothe unsecured condition, whereby a first medical item stored in the storage location may be accessed. 42. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the tab portions each include a first elongated outer edge having a first distance, wherein the finger portion projections each include a second elongated outer edge having a second distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 43. The apparatus according to claim 42 wherein the tab portions extend from a side of the bracket a third distance, wherein the finger portions extend from an edge of the bracket a fourth distance, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance. 44. Apparatus comprising:a cabinet adapted for housing medical items, the cabinet including an interior area bounded by a pair of opposed side walls, the side walls being disposed from one another in a first horizontal direction;each side wall including therein a plurality of first pairs of apertures, the apertures in each first pair being disposed from and aligned with one another in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, and a plurality of second pairs of apertures, the apertures in each second pair being disposed from and aligned with one another in the second horizontal direction, and wherein each aperture in ea ch first pair is vertically disposed from and aligned with at least one aperture in another first pair, and wherein each aperture in each second pair is vertically disposed from and aligned with at least one aperture in another second pair;a plurality of supports, each support releasibly simultaneously engageable with at least one first pair aperture and at least one second pair aperture;at least one medical item supporting structure removably supported and selectively vertically positionable in the interior area, wherein the at least one medical item supporting structure is in releasibly supporting connection with both of the side walls through at least two of the supports. 45. The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein each of the apertures in each first pair is elongated in the second horizontal direction. 46. The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein each of the apertures in each second pair is vertically elongated. 47. The apparatus according to claim 45 wherein each of the apertures in each second pair is vertically elongated. 48. The apparatus according to claim 44 and further comprising a pair of slides, wherein the slides are disposed from one another in the first horizontal direction, and wherein a first medical item supporting structure is in supporting connection with the pair of slides, wherein the first medical item supporting structure is enabled to be extended from the interior area. 49. The apparatus according to claim 44 and further comprising a plurality of medical item supporting structures each of which plurality of medical item supporting structures is selectively vertically positionable in the interior area. 50. The apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the plurality of medical item supporting structures includes at least one drawer. 51. The apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the plurality of medical item supporting structures include at least one shelf. 52. The apparatus according to claim 50 wherein the plurality of medical item supporting structures include at least one shelf. 53. Apparatus comprising:a cabinet adapted for housing medical items, the cabinet including an interior area bounded by a pair of disposed side walls, the side walls being disposed from one another in a first horizontal direction;a plurality of medical item supporting structures releasibly supported and selectively vertically positionable in the interior area;a plurality of interengaging apertures and projections, wherein one of either the apertures and projections is operatively fixed relative to and in supporting connection with the side walls, and the other of either the apertures and projections is operatively fixed relative to and in supporting connection with the supporting structures, and wherein each medical item supporting structure is releasibly supported in the interior area in supporting connection with both of the side walls through engagement of a plurality of the projections and apertures. 54. The apparatus according to claim 53 wherein the plurality of the one of either the apertures and projections operatively fixed and in supporting connection with the side walls, are arranged in sets, wherein each set in supporting connection with one side wall is vertically disposed from and parallel to at least one other set in supporting connection with the one side wall. 55. The apparatus according to claim 54 wherein each set comprises at least one pair of apertures, and wherein at least one pair of projections in supporting connection with a supporting structure is engaged in the at least one pair of apertures to engage the supporting structure in supporting connection with the one side wall. 56. The apparatus according to claim 54 wherein each set includes a first pair of apertures and a second pair of apertures, the apertures in each first pair being disposed from and aligned with one another in a second horizontal direction, the apertures in each second pair being disposed from and aligned with one another i n a second horizontal direction, and wherein each aperture in each first pair is vertically disposed from and aligned with at least one aperture in another first pair, and wherein each aperture in each second pair is vertically disposed from and aligned with at least one aperture in another second pair, wherein each of the apertures in each first pair is horizontally elongated, and wherein each of the apertures in each second pair is vertically elongated.